From Fishermen's Arcades to High-End Shopping

The “Gran Via” of luxury

The local newspapers of a century ago, at the end of August, reported on improvements intended to beautify the centre of Lugano.

Under the title “Enhancements”, the Corriere del Ticino wrote: “With the demolition of the buildings on Via Gerolamo Vegezzi, a new and very convenient passage opens from Via Perseghini to Via della Posta; and the Customs Building is beginning to enjoy some of the advantages offered by its central position, which until yesterday remained too isolated. The recent revival in construction suggests that the buildings overlooking this important new street will soon also be improved.” Newspapers focused on Via Nassa. On 30 August 1924, the Gazzetta ticinese called it the “Gran Via”, because “its countless shops, the constant coming and going of foreigners speaking all sorts of languages, and the traffic of every kind remind us of the great Madrid avenue that inspired Greco and Valverde to write the delightful operetta which for decades has graced theatres around the world.”

On 26 August, Popolo e libertà praised an “excellent initiative”, writing: “It is well known how annoying for pedestrians the interruption caused by the small alleys crossing Via Nassa and leading to the quay can be. So much so that they are commonly called in Lugano the ‘rain arcades’. Now, thanks to the initiative of Mr Clericetti and Mr Vanini, this inconvenience will soon disappear, at least in part. The two property owners have decided to cover the passage with a glass canopy. It would be a good thing if the neighbouring property owners would do the same.”

The Gazzetta ticinese observed that “what remains missing is the covering of the stretch — the longest one — between the Primavesi building and the Magatti building, a stretch that, due to the will of Mrs Magatti, will hardly be carried out, as she seems opposed to any repair work on her property. Perhaps the Municipality could also find a solution to this problem, allowing pedestrians, on rainy and snowy days during the long winter, to walk along Via Nassa without having to open and close their umbrellas at every moment.”

It was a moment of great fervour in the city’s commercial life. Popolo e libertà wrote: “The Clericetti house on Via Nassa, adjacent to the Hotel Lloyd, has recently been completely modernised following designs by the architect Mario Tallone. The ground-floor space facing the arcades has been transformed into a spacious, airy and bright shop, where a branch of the department store ‘All’Innovazione’ will be installed, offering luxury fashion and clothing items.” The Gazzetta ticinese also reported the opening of other shops in the centre: “A poultry shop run by the Carpani brothers will open on Via Pessina. The sales space is being covered with white tiles — a guarantee of the utmost cleanliness, which hygiene regulations should require in all shops selling foodstuffs. On Piazza Cioccaro, in the Primavesi property, two new shops have opened: one for watchmaking and optics, and another for orthopaedics. Thus the number of shops increases daily, showing that Lugano prospers day by day.” Finally, the paper called upon the Municipality, noting that “to the efforts and sacrifices made by local businesses, the Comune should contribute by carrying out beautification, maintenance and roadworks in our city, already known as the pearl of Switzerland.”

Fonte: La Rivista di Lugano (sito vianassalugano.ch)

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